Black Friday

[Captain Ice]

I had a couple of things I needed that showed up with significant discounts in Black Friday ads this week, so I went out to the shops at 4am this morning even though I normally avoid the shops on Black Friday like the plague.

Who else went to the shops this morning and what did you get?

 

[vampgrrl]

I didn't go but I ran out to get McDonalds breakfast...and I did see people piling stuff into their cars, in the rain at 5AM.

Online shopping only for me...

 

[Finn]

I sat for five hours in a Walmart aisle last year. Never again!

 

[Robert Maxwell]

I plan not to go anywhere today. Fuck that noise. There's nothing I need badly enough that it can't wait until tomorrow or even next week.

 

[Scout101]

eh, half thinking about a quick run out, but don't really care. Don't need much of anything, don't feel like dealing with the crowds, and there really any deals that I can't beat online anyway...

 

[farmkid]

I didn't, and don't plan to, go shopping today. One year I went to an electronics store to get something, forgetting what day it was. I'll never make that mistake again.

Black Friday has always bothered me for some reason, and I wasn't able to put words to why until just recently. We spend Thursday celebrating Thanksgiving Day, a day which is supposed to be set aside for us to remember what we have and to be thankful for it. It's a day dedicated to gratitude. Black Friday, on the other hand, seems to be dedicted to greed. It's the absolute antithesis of what Thanksgiving is supposed to be. It's seems almost as though Black Friday was designed to counteract Thanksgiving Day and undo any effect it may have on people.

 

[Robert Maxwell]

I remember I ventured to the store on Black Friday last year and it was pure insanity. I do not intend to repeat that mistake.

 

[Captain Ice]

I plan not to go anywhere today. Fuck that noise. There's nothing I need badly enough that it can't wait until tomorrow or even next week.

That's normally my response, but I saw two things I needed and with a combined savings of twice what I actually spent and the fact that I'd never done it before I said "What the Hell"

 

[Bears Discover Fire]

I am totally out of shampoo but won't dare venture into a store today.

 

[propita]

Hubby looked at yesterday’s ads and went online a bit. I buy during the year at good prices. We did the “wait in the cold for hours” bit--but we were younger and poorer then.

 

[1001001]

Who buys anything in stores anymore?

If I can't buy it online, I don't need it.



Besides, I think "Black Friday" is a ridiculously contrived consumer frenzy for people whose time has no value.

 

[Aurian]

We don't have black friday shopping over here, but believe me, I would definitly consider being there

 

[auntiehill]

I tend to start my shopping early so I have plenty of time. Most of what I get for people is online, usually at Amazon. I don't have any big items to buy and we don't have kids, so there's no need to hit the stores or malls today at ALL.

I have friends who have kids---they hit Toys R Us back in late October, when they had a huge sale, and hid the stuff at a friend's house. It seems like a lot of stores had big sales well before today, so unless you are desperately wanting some particular item, I can't imagine why you'd want to put up with those crowds.

 

[Lookingglassman]

The only things I like are video games and I have patience. I usually nab the ones I want on the used shelf later in the year.

 

[RJDiogenes]

My Amazon order shipped today. I'm done.

I did go to the supermarket, but they were out of Twisted Tea.

 

[Kira's Mom]

I went to Jo-Ann Fabric and Crafts, World Market, Ross, and Target. I picked up about $100 worth of crafting stuff for less that $60 at Jo-Ann, some nice gift wrap, chocolates, and an ornament at World Market, and a top and a small ornament at Ross. My Target shopping was for my church- our "Angel Tree" has wishlists from kids who have a parent in prison. I bought Liv and Moxie dolls for two little girls- I love shopping for little kids!

 

[sidious618]

I went to Barnes and Noble today and spent way too much money. Not because it was Black Firday, just because I couldn't handle myself.

 

[backstept]

I sat for five hours in a Walmart aisle last year. Never again!

I did a 12 hour shift today.

 

[MetalPants]

Yeah, I worked at Wal-Mart today. I was surprised too. I didn't get called any foul names, wasn't swore at, didn't have any weapons pointed at me, or have to break up any fights. A first time for everything eh?

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

I never shop on Black Friday, and I'm *extremely* glad I don't work retail on a day like that. In my store, it's just another normal day. *whew*